Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco 2015 (6-11 april)

[Carols]

Wow nice move by Katusha. Jrod has a mechanical, uses a lot of energy to get back in, but they played it great with 2 teammates up the last climb and Purito is Back in the Winners Circle, 2 days in a row. I love that little guy

 

[Futuroscope]

Zakarin hmm.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Zakarin reminds me somehow of that Sky rider who won TdF 2013.

True,Froome found his lost brother

Come to think of it, apart from a similar riding style, he has almost the perfect profile of a future GT winner if Katusha can follow Sky's scientific training methods.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

Zakarin reminds me somehow of that Sky rider who won TdF 2013.

What way you mean?

 

[AlexNYC]

I think the race will be decided on the last day TT, as usual. Tomorrow is another stage that Purito could easily win, but I don't think he'll be able to distance Henao. Quintana is either conserving his strength or he is really not that strong right now. If the latter, he could be dropped in a strong attack tomorrow; if the former, watch out for him in the TT.

 

[qwer]

quintana is so overrated, he will be crushed by contador on tour

 

[shalgo]

Re:

Zakarin reminds me somehow of that Sky rider who won TdF 2013.

How can you say that? One was a late bloomer, the other was European junior TT champ at age 17. (Of course, Zakarin is also known for another "achievement" at age 19.)

 

[rm7]

Re: Re:

Zakarin reminds me somehow of that Sky rider who won TdF 2013.

How can you say that? One was a late bloomer, the other was European junior TT champ at age 17. (Of course, Zakarin is also known for another "achievement" at age 19.)

Could it be that he mean his riding style, and he is very skinny?

 

[ray j willings]

Henao looked Strongest and I think would have won had he attacked later. Purito judged the stage much better and was very cool.
I have no idea what sort of form Quintana "tinymanofpower" has. He looks a bit half ar%%ed about the whole race.
Tinymanofpower has still to prove himself over 3 weeks against the likes of Bertie. It would have been good to see him Giro bound but like the rest he bottled out of the Tinkov challenge.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Henao looked Strongest and I think would have won had he attacked later. Purito judged the stage much better and was very cool.
I have no idea what sort of form Quintana "tinymanofpower" has. He looks a bit half ar%%ed about the whole race.
Tinymanofpower has still to prove himself over 3 weeks against the likes of Bertie. It would have been good to see him Giro bound but like the rest he bottled out of the Tinkov challenge.

Lol someone missed TDF 2013,Quintana was there.I don't think he needs to prove anything to Contador.But keep on trolling

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Henao looked Strongest and I think would have won had he attacked later. Purito judged the stage much better and was very cool.
I have no idea what sort of form Quintana "tinymanofpower" has. He looks a bit half ar%%ed about the whole race.
Tinymanofpower has still to prove himself over 3 weeks against the likes of Bertie. It would have been good to see him Giro bound but like the rest he bottled out of the Tinkov challenge.

Lol someone missed TDF 2013,Quintana was there.I don't think he needs to prove anything to Contador.But keep on trolling

To be honest, Contador was rather poor that edition. The whole year 2013 actually.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Henao looked Strongest and I think would have won had he attacked later. Purito judged the stage much better and was very cool.
I have no idea what sort of form Quintana "tinymanofpower" has. He looks a bit half ar%%ed about the whole race.
Tinymanofpower has still to prove himself over 3 weeks against the likes of Bertie. It would have been good to see him Giro bound but like the rest he bottled out of the Tinkov challenge.

Lol someone missed TDF 2013,Quintana was there.I don't think he needs to prove anything to Contador.But keep on trolling

To be honest, Contador was rather poor that edition. The whole year 2013 actually.

Not Quintana problem that Contador wasn't at his best,like was not Contador problem last Vuelta that Froome wasn't at his best.

 

[AlexNYC]

Re:

Henao looked Strongest and I think would have won had he attacked later. Purito judged the stage much better and was very cool.
I have no idea what sort of form Quintana "tinymanofpower" has. He looks a bit half ar%%ed about the whole race.
Tinymanofpower has still to prove himself over 3 weeks against the likes of Bertie. It would have been good to see him Giro bound but like the rest he bottled out of the Tinkov challenge.

You call it Tinkov chanllenge, I call it Tinkov trap

 

[Fernandez]

I would say Quintana is in good shape, but its just these climbs dont suit him well. He needs TRUE mountains.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Zakarin reminds me somehow of that Sky rider who won TdF 2013.

How can you say that? One was a late bloomer, the other was European junior TT champ at age 17. (Of course, Zakarin is also known for another "achievement" at age 19.)

Could it be that he mean his riding style, and he is very skinny?

Skinny, about the same riding style, tall, elbows and all. Of course Zakarin has a far better track record than Froome had before he went vrooom.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Henao is the strongest, he attacked too early.

I agree partially. The problem with this climb is that the difficult part is right at the middle. So he had to take opportunity as he did. And he did in effect distanced everybody. But the climb is not long enough and it eases off at the end. So he almost had no choice. It could be different tomorrow.

So far Henao has attacked three days in a row!! He is sitting on great form but the profiles are either not hard enough or not long enough. Design made for Purito.

 

[Mr.White]

Kwiatkowki = not a climber

 

[johnymax]

Watched again the finish. Great team tactic by Katusha. To me the strongest today seemed Henao, Špilak, Scarponi and Yates. Great ride by Zakarin and Izagirre and of course congrats Purito for the win. Was happy to see Polanc doing well again. He's been great the last two days for Rui Costa.

For the final GC I still see Quintana as the winner, then Špilak and Henao. Then Purito, Mollema, Pinot, Kwiatek, van Garderen, Scarponi, Costa, Yates in no particular order. Zakarin a wild card. He looks good too, but has done a lot of work for the team already.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

At the moment, Izagirre is a wildcard as well... expecting him domestiquing tomorrow, but if he's there until the final ascent of Aia, he could keep himself at a distance where he can compete in the TT. TJVG is right up there as well.

This is reminding me of the 2011 edition, when we had a very fast group ascent on Arrate, and the gaps from the Alto de Antigua held for much of the race. However, we have a MUCH harder penultimate stage and ITT this year. Will be very interested in seeing how the gaps develop tomorrow. Montelupone-style.

 

[Escarabajo]

Jens, do you have the times up the Arrate climb?
Thanks.

 

[johnymax]

Agree about Izagirre. I didn't include him because I expect him to do the work tomorrow.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Jens, do you have the times up the Arrate climb?
Thanks.

http://www.climbing-records.com/

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Jens, do you have the times up the Arrate climb?
Thanks.

http://www.climbing-records.com/

Thanks.

Wow, Zakarin?

First time I hear that name.

Well it would be like 3 years ago seeing Quintana climb Joux Plane!

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

Henao looked Strongest and I think would have won had he attacked later. Purito judged the stage much better and was very cool.
I have no idea what sort of form Quintana "tinymanofpower" has. He looks a bit half ar%%ed about the whole race.
Tinymanofpower has still to prove himself over 3 weeks against the likes of Bertie. It would have been good to see him Giro bound but like the rest he bottled out of the Tinkov challenge.

Lol someone missed TDF 2013,Quintana was there.I don't think he needs to prove anything to Contador.But keep on trolling

That's your opinion. I hit you with some truth bombs but you don't like it. 2013 Bertie was not in good form/health. Quintana could not cope with Sky. Last year Bertie had no trouble with Sky and has already this year defeated Froome from on a mountain stage and a ITT.
Bertie is a multi champion Quintana has won a GT but not up against the best and in form. That's not trolling that's facts.
chillax and have a cup of tea

 

[johnymax]

Hopefully tomorrow somebody attacks before the last climb. I don't want to see an uphill sprint. At least on the penultimate climb or even better the first time up the Alto de Aia 20km to go.